Erie County Clerk Files Federal Lawsuit to Challenge New York’s Green Light Law

July 15th, 2019

Mickey Kearns, Erie County Clerk, filed a federal lawsuit this week challenging New York’s Green Light Law. Kearns, a Democrat, has been a vocal opponent of the law which will compel the issuance of driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. The law also forbids cooperation with federal authorities, which Kearns believes will require County Clerks and DMV officials to violate federal law. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, also a Democrat, is supporting the county attorney’s filing of the lawsuit, but, has said he expects all county officials to abide by the ruling of the court.

Statement issued by Kearns:

“The law compels County Clerks across the State to be an instrument to violate federal law. The federal lawsuit seeks a declaration as the law’s constitutionality and will also be seeking an injunction to prevent the law from going into effect prior to a final decision from the courts.”